Low-water safety telltale



GS A. SAGER Low WATER SAFETY TELLTALE Filed March 4. 1920l e shqoets-sheet 1 L D S LSZSQ@ .July 22, 192%,

G. A. SAGER LOW WATER SAFETY TELLTALE Filed March 4, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 6 n w f w f .J f

jim/exib G. A. SGER LOW WATER SAFETY TELLTALE lFiled March 4. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 july 22, 1924@ A G. A. SAGER Low WATER SAFETY TELLTALE 6 sheets-sheet 4 Filed March 4. 1920 July 22, 1924;

G. A. SAGER LOW WATER SAFETY TELLTALE Filed Maro-h 4, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 uy 22, B924 LSEEW G. A. sAGER Low' WATER SAFETY TELLTALE Filed March' 4. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented July 22, i924; Y

narran abaratar carica.

GEORGE A. SAGER, F ALBANY, NEW YORK.

LOW-WATER SAFETY TELL'ALE.

Application led March e, 1920. Serial No. 363,206.

To all whom t may concern.' boiler pressure for the purpose of remov- Be it known that l, GEORGE A. SAGER, a in or installing such disk.

citizen of the United States, residing at he invention also incorporates means for Albany, in the county of Albany and State clearing the same of waterof condensation,

of New York, have invented certain new and means for creating a difference in 55 and useful Improvements in Low-Water hydrostatic head on certain parts of the de- Safety Telltales, of which the following vice as will be hereinafter particularly set is a specification. forth.

This invention relates to a low water A further essential feature of the invenlo safety telLtale, especially adapted for use tion resides in the provision of thermally 60 on locomotive boilers to indicate and record actuated means for opening a valve controlthe existence of low water during a period of ling a steam line from which the visible low service by an engineer. water indicating means is operated and I am aware that, previous to* my invenwhich, on opening, causes a draft of cool tion, many low water tell-tale devices have air to circulate in contact with the ther- 65 been patented, but few have come into acmally actuated means thereby restoring such tual use due principally to the fact that the means to its normal condition and closing construction of these devices made them unsaid `valve after the visible signal means has reliable and added complication to the locobeen eected.

motive, and usually they depended on more ln the drawings: l 70 or less impractical float operated means for Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomoactuating the indicating or recording mechtive boiler, with a portion of the shell thereanism. of broken away to show the interior, and

ln the present invention the operating wlth the safety tell-tale installed therein; means for actuating the indicator and re- Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the 75 cording element is so constructed and asthermally controlled valve; sociated with the locomotive boiler that it Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the is entirely concealed and cannot be tampered manner of sealing the tell-tale disk in powith. Furthermore its adjustment is fixed sition; y

at the time of manufacture and cannot be Fig. i is a section on the line 4 4 of 80 subsequently altered. Fig. 2;

An essential feature of the invention is Fig. 5"is a section on the line 5-5 of that the operating means is .supported at- Fig. 2; but a single point with respect to the shell Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of of the locomotive boiler and therefore can- Fig. 2; 85 not become inoperative by reason; of the Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7--7 of expansion, contraction or other distortion to Fig. 2; which a locomotive boiler is subjected by Fig. 8 is a perspective of a portion of the reason of the variations in -steam pressure. air baffle;

A further feature of the invention is'the Fig. 9 is a view of a modified form of 90 incorporation therein of. a' tell-tale disk for thermally operated valve actuating means; recording the existence of a low water Figure 10 is an exterior view in side elelevel which disk is sealed in place and cannot vation showing the lower en d portion of the be removed or replaced except by an aucasing of the device.

thorized employee, thereby forming a means Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view 95 of detecting carelessness or negligence of through'the lower end portion of the casthe engineer. ing showing a modified form of expansion The inventionhas as another obiectv the tube. particular arrangementv4 of tell-ta e disk Figure 12 is a detail secti whereby itis unnecessary to disturb the fled form of expansion tube.

on of the modi- Fig. 13 is a vertical section through a modified form of valve actuatingmeans; n

Fig. 14 is a vertical central section through a modified form of feeder tube; Fig. 15 is a view showingan extension for the feeler tube.

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view through the thermally controlled valve at substantially right angles to F igure` 2,

Figure 17 is a sectional view on the line 17--17 of Figure 2,

Figure 18 is a reduced fragmentary vertical sectional view through the thermally controlled valve on the line 18-18 of Figure 6, and

Figure 19 is a sectional view on the line 19-19 of Figure 2.

The general form which the invention may preferably take in practice is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, in which the locomotive boiler is indicated at A and has a portion of its shell broken away to show the crown sheet 1 approximate the end of which is disposed the thermally actuated valve operating means B controlling a steam line inclusive of the pipe 2 leading to the audible signal means C. This audible signal means, however, forms the subject matter of a separate divisional application, filed June 8, 1921, Ser. No. 475,969, and will not be considered herein in detail.

With reference to the thermally actuated valve operating means B, such means consists of a casing indicated generally at 3 and provided with a seat 4 and flange 5 drilled as at 6 for attachment to the boiler shell as indicated in Fig. 1. The casing 3 is open on one side as shown at 7 and on the other side has an outlet 8. A flange 9 connects the said casing with a head 10 I which will be hereinafter more particularly described. y

Within the casing 3 and positioned axially with respect-thereto is a tubular mem.- ber 11 having a relatively high coefficient of expansion with respect to the casing 3. This tubular memberll carries a shoulder 12 at its lowerend ',whichseats in the bottom" of the casing- 3and is provided with a reduced portion"13swaged over as at 14 to ixedlyfanchorjthelower end of said Vtubular expansionmember-11.: The upper end of the expansion member 11 carries a i. reinforcing bushing ,"15which isbrazed or otherwise suitably secured in place and carries a hardened steel cap 16. Near the upper end of the expansion .tube 11 is mounted a valve casing 17 having an outlet 18 and carrying a valve stem 19 having a valve head 20 normally maintained in the open position by a valve spring 21, said valve stem 19 having a knob 22 which may be rotated to remove any sediment from the valve or valve seat. The object'of this valve is to permit the expulsion of air and steam when ythe boiler is initially undergoing pressure but, by reason of the compression of the spring 21 such valve will be closed as soon as anyappreciable pressure within the boiler is developed.

The head 10 of the thermally actuated valve controlling means is chambered as in-i dicated at 23 to accommodate pins 24 and 25 mounting the superposed levers 26 and 27 respectively having the fulcrums 28 and 29, thus forming a compound lever action which, by reason of the fulcrum 29 seating on the hardened steel cap 16 of the .eXpansion tube 11 will elevate the end of the lever 27 as the expansion tube 11 lengthens due to heat.

The head 10 is provided with an axial' bore 30 aligning with the axis of the ex-V pansion tube'll When the head 10 is mounted on the flange 9 and secured in place by bolts or studs 31, and said bore 30 receives a valve seat 32 carried by the shoulders or counter-bore 33 within the said head 10, the upper end of said bore 30 being closed by a screw plug 34 having a recess 35 which is crossed by a pin 36 retaining a ball valve 37 within said recess and which cooperates with a ball valve seat 38, said ball valve normally being held open by the spring 39 and venting to the atmosphere as indicated at 40. lThe head 1() is chambered at 41 and provided with a nipple 42 having a threaded head 43, such nipple receiving a ball valve element 44 which, when the valve 47 seats and the pressure in the chamber 41 is relieved, drops to admit air to the chamber so that said chamber and all passages between the chamber and the pipe 2 including said pipe may freely drain. The valve seat 32 is counterbored as at 45 and provided with passages 46 communicating with the chamber 41 of the head 10. A valve 47 closes the counterbore 45 with respect to the space or chamber 48 thereabove. The head 10 is counterbored at one side as at 49 and shouldered as at 50 to receive a frangible disk 51 which is retained in place by the spoke member 52, a chamber thus being formed behind the said disk and which communicates with the chamber 41 by means of a minute steam passage 53 so that pressure within the chamber created behind the disk 51 will cause the fracture or rupture of the same and thus record an operation of the valve 47 as will be hereinafter described. The spoke member 52 is sealed againstl removal by any suitable means such as a wire 54 passin beneath one of the spokes and through a ole 55 in the head 10 and the ends of which wire are united by a permanent lead seal 56. Communicating with the chamber 48 and extending the length of the head 10 and well down toward the end of the casing 3 are passages 57 and 58 011e of which terminates,

incasso as shown in Figure 16, approximate the ioint 4 and the other nearly at the end ot the casing 3. These passages supply steam at boiler pressure to the chamber 48 and, by reason of the di'erence in level of the terminal points thereof a difference in hydrostatic head results which, should condensation accumulate Within the said chamber 48 the longer passage would have sutcient iniluence over the shorter passage to relieve the chamber 48. This construction is also of advantage in the event that the boiler is subjected to hydrostatic test.

Inserted through a suitable bore in the casing 3 and extending down to approxiu .mately the center line of the opening 8 is a tube 59 having an opening 60, said tube bein closed at the upper end by a plug 61 and aving an opening 62 which, as shown in Figure 17 communicates with a passage 63 in the said head through a plugged bore 62 in the flange 9. The passage 63 leads, as shown in detail in Figure 18, directly to the chamber 41 so that on entrance of steam to the chamber 41 a jet of steam will be expelled through the opening 60 forming a visible signal indicating operation of the valve 47 and at the same time causing a circulation of air around the tube 11 which has vertical baille members 64 supported by members 65 whereby air drawn in at the" Vopen side 7 of the casing 3 passes downwardly as indicated by the arrows on one side of the expansion tube 11 and upwardly on the other side thereof and out through the opening 8, which thus assists contraction of the tubular expansion member 11 when the water level within the boiler is nally raised. The passage 63 forms al steam line in combination with the pipe 2 which connects with said passage 63 at the opening indicated in Figure 19 at 66 so that when the valve 47 is opened steam will iow through saidV pipe for actuating the audible si nal.

In the modifications of the device as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the expansion tube 11EL is lluted or vertically ribbed to provide heat dissipating means thus eecting more rapid contraction than would otherwise be the case. In the form shown in Fig. 14 the casing 3a contains a-n asbestos lining indicated at 3b which, where a relatively short eeler tubeis required, forms a means of retarding radiation and convection from the expansion tube 11.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9 a construction is indicated which may be employed in extremely short ranges, a lioat 67 being disposed in the end of the casing and held in place therein by a pin 68, said oat being of spherical form. The end of the ex ansion tube is notched at one or more p aces as indicated at 69 and the chamber is open on the sides at several points on a line with the low water level indicated at By means of this construction the interior of the expansion tube is partially closed, thereby retarding natural circulation of the hot water and permitting the said expansion tube to become much cooler than would otherwise be the case and resulting in agreater range of expansion when the water does become low and the heat increases. An asbestos lining 71 for the casing may also be employed in' this construcion.

In some instances it may be possible to employ an expansion element of such length that it 1s practicable to associate the same with the valve 47 for direct operation, thus omitting the compound leverage formed by the combination of levers 26 and 27. In such construction, as indicated in Fig. 13, the expansion element 72 is extended upwardly and capped as at 7 3 so that the surface of the cap 73 lies within a few thousandths of an inch of the end of the valve stem of the valve 47 and thus, as the expansion tube 72 lengthens it contacts with the stem of the valve 47 and raises the latter ofi' its seat. In this construction the cap for the head is indicated at 34 and the valve seat at 82, since the construction of these related parts is identical with the construction shown in Fig. 2.

Reverting to Fig. 2, it is to be particularly noted that the insertion of the expansion tube 11 within the interior of the boiler results in positive action rot" the mechanism. Also attention is particularly directed to the fact that when the boiler is under pressure the outer casing 3 remains constantly expanded with the exception of slight variations due to changes in steam pressure, therefore the entire action of the mechanism including the valve 47 and compound leverage system for movingy the same is obtained through the medium oi changes in length in the expansion tube 11 when its lower end is exposed to steam; when its lower end is sealed by water (the external surface of the tube 11 being exposed to the atmosphere) the tube 11 contracts but the outer tube or casing 3 remains set thereby rendering the action of the expansion tube 11 positive and powerful due to the fact that there is no appreciable elasticity to any portion of the apparatus.

In the modification shown in Fig. 15, to avoid the necessity of providing different lengths of feeler tubes for different sizes of boilers an extension body 3a with a'ilange 3" may be secured to the end of the feeler tube by screws or the like, as shown.

' Also it is desired to call attention to the fact that while the device is herein described as particularly adaptable to locopecially is this true of the delay type of mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a thermally operated tell-tale, a valve including a seat, a casing supporting said valve and seat, a thermally expansible valve operating element carried by-said casing for expansion and contraction to control the opening and closing of said valve, and means rendered operative by the opening of said valve for assisting contraction of said thermal element.

2. In a thermally operated tell-tale, a valve includino' a seat, a casing supporting said valve andD seat, a lever system carried by said casing, a thermally expansible valve operating element carried by said 'casing for expansion and contraction to move said lever system to open said valve and control closing thereof, and means rendered operative by the opening of said valve for assisting contraction of said thermal element.

3. In a thermally operated tell-tale, a valve including a seat, a casing supporting said valve and seat, a thermally expansible valve operating element carried by said casing for expansion and contraction to control the opening and closing of said valve, means recording the initial opening of said valve, and means rendered operative by the openingof said valve for assisting contraction of said thermal element.

4. In a thermally operated tell-tale, a valve including a seat, a casingv supporting said valve and seat, a lever system carried by said casing, a thermally expansible valve operating element carried'by said casing for expansion and contraction to move said lever system to open said valve 'and control closing thereof, means recording the initial opening of said valve, and means rendered operative by the opening of said valve for assisting contraction of said thermal element.

5. In a thermally operated tell tale, a valve including a seat, a casing supporting said valve and seat, a thermally expansible valve operating element having radiating fins, said element being carried b'y said casing for expansion and contraction with respect thereto to open said valve and control closing thereof, and means rendered operative by the opening of said valve for assisting contraction of said thermal element.

6. In a thermallyl operated tell-tale, aft' valve including a. seat, .a lever system, a casing supporting said valve, seat and lever system, a thermally expansible lever system operating element having radiating* fins., said element being carried by said casing for expansion and contraction with respect thereto to loperate said lever system to control the opening and closing movement of said valve, and means rendered operative by valve, means operatively supporting thev valve and said element, and an aspirating nozzle controlled by the valve and operable for inducing a flow of air about said element. l

9.. A thermally operated vtell-tale including a casing, a valve carried thereby, a thermally operable element Within vthe casing controlling the opening and closing of said valve, and means controlled by thevalve for releasing steam to set up a flow of air through the casing.

10. A thermally operated tell-tale including a casing, a valve carried thereby, athermally operable element Within the casing controlling the opening and closing of said valve, the casing being provided with an opening and With an outlet, and means controlled by the valve for releasing steam adjacent said outlet whereby to induce a liow of air entering the casing at said opening and discharging at said outlet.

11. A thermally operated tell-tale including a casing provided With a head, a valve seat in said head, a valve `cooperating With said seat, and a thermally operable element Within the casing controlling the opening and closing of said valve, the valve seat, head and casing being provided With communicating passages for releasing steam to set up a flow of air through the casing upon openin of the valve.

12. thermally operated tell-tale including a valve, an expansible element operable for opening the valve, and means operatively supporting the valve and said element and provided With a steam chamber normally closed by the valve, said supporting means embodying companion means supplying steam to said'chamber and having steam passages-of unequal length. 13. A thermally operated ing a valve, an expansible element operable for opening the valve, andmeans operatively supporting the valve and said element and provided with a steam'chamber normally closed by the valve and with passages of unequal length supplying steam to said chamber,

14. A thermally operated tell-tale including a casing closed at its lower end byan tell-tale includend wall and provided invspaced relation to said end thereof with a flange for connecting the casing with a boiler to support the casing in position 'projecting at its lower end portion into the boiler, an expansion tube freely received within the casing and anchored at itslower end to said lend wall,

the lower end of the tube being open, and a valve carried bythe casing, the tube being expansible for opening'said Valve and the 10 casing being provided with an opening exposing the upper end portion of the tube to the atmosphere.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

GEORGE A. SAGER. [L 5.] 

